GRDC releases updated editions of two essential herbicide manuals for Australian grain growers

GRDC has released updated editions of two essential herbicide manuals for Australian grain growers: ‘Soil behaviour of pre-emergent herbicide in Australian farming systems’ and ‘Understanding post-emergent herbicide weed control in Australian farming systems’.

These manuals, first published in 2019 and 2020, have undergone a revision that incorporates the latest in herbicide research and practice, including the transition to an international numbering system for herbicide mode of action.

This change aligns Australian agricultural practices with global standards, ensuring that Australian farmers and agronomists have access to the most current and relevant information.

According to GRDC Manager Chemical Regulation Gordon Cumming, key updates include the incorporation of new herbicides and modes of action in the pre-emergent herbicide manual.

″Notable additions are new modes of action such as Group 13 bixlozone (Overwatch^®), Group 23 carbetamide (Ultro^®), Group 30 cinmethylin (Luximax^®), Group 32 aclonifen (in Mateno^® Complete), and Group O napropamide (Devrinol^®),″ Mr Cumming says.

″These additions highlight the growing range of pre-emergent herbicide options available to Australian growers in managing weed challenges.″

″The post-emergent herbicide manual has seen fewer changes, with minor improvements in understanding certain herbicide modes of action, however, new research improving our understanding of the Group 10 herbicide glufosinate has been included, which is an increasingly important non-selective knockdown herbicide.″

According to Mark Congreve, senior consultant with Independent Consultants Australia Network (ICAN), both manuals aim to simplify the complex interactions of pesticide chemistry with environmental conditions.

″They are valuable resources for agronomists, researchers and growers, providing insights into the behaviour of herbicides under various conditions, the interaction of different products, application techniques, crop safety, and environmental dissipation,″ Mr Congreve says.

Complementing these manuals and in collaboration with ICAN, GRDC offers specialised workshops to further assist agronomists in putting this information into context. The 1.5-day workshops focus on the principles of herbicide biochemistry and their practical applications.

Details of the workshops can be found at ICAN Rural.

Download the new ‘Soil Behaviour of Pre-Emergent Herbicide in Australian Farming Systems’ manual.

Download the ‘Understanding Post-Emergent Herbicide Weed Control in Australian Farming Systems’ manual.

The release of these manuals is a part of GRDC's commitment to continuous improvement and investment in research and development, ensuring that Australian agriculture remains at the forefront of global best practices and innovation.